He undermines the inclusive spirit that Bush has tried to build

From the very beginning of Trent Lott's fourth attempt to apologize, the tone was all wrong. The Senate Republican leader seemed forceful, composed, even buoyant--but not at all bowed, contrite or shaken. The words said sorry, but the attitude didn't. By the end of the press conference, Lott was actually grinning. It was as if he wasn't aware that when a major politician in 2002 needs to assure the nation that he repudiates racial segregation, the game has already been lost. It was as if he still didn't grasp the hideousness of what he had said. Because if he had, he...